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9.58! What Usain Bolt Taught Me About Opportunities Last Night

Usain Bolt broke the 100 meter sprint record

9.58 seconds – the new world record in the 100m sprint. Possibly the biggest single event in track and field in the last 50 years.

9.58 seconds moves the line for what is possible. It was moved at Usain Bolt’s 9.69, and now he did it again. Only better. 0.11 seconds is the best improvement on the 100m world record since electronic timing entered the scene in 1968.

Now, this may not be a big thing for someone not interested in sports at all, but for us of us who are, it is a big thing. It’s a huge thing.

As this is not a blog about fantastic sports accomplishments (although that would be pretty darn cool), this post is not really about Usain Bolt and his world record.

This post is about hope and breaking (your own) expectations.

Sometimes, something extraordinary happens. For a typical male in the 21st century, it might be a perfect night ending with going home with the queen of the party. It could also be a fantastic job promotion, or experiencing the joy of seeing your son for the first time.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not comparing these events, but they can all feel almost divine or holy. Like you ‘suddenly see the light’. Call it religious mumbo-jumbo, I don’t care… Think back, you know what I’m talking about. It comes in different degrees.

Anyway, I like to see that kind moment as a ‘sign from god’.
(Ahhh, the superstitious dude talking again, right? Just listen to me for a second and it’ll make sense.)

I like to see those moments as opportunities given by something or someone that is larger than ourselves. A chance or a test, so to speak.

So really, this post is about you grabbing that chance when it opens up to you. It might be a little confusing right now, but I’ll tie the ends together, hang on.

You can also experience that kind of motivation while watching a movie or reading a book – it’s actually quite common. You get filled with a sudden surge or rush of positive thoughts on all kinds of good things you could do right when you get out of the movie theatre, or lay the book away or whatever.

Now it comes together. This is what Usain Bolt taught me last night. You have to grab that chance when it shines. It might be there for just a few seconds – that divine inspiration. But you must decide to act upon it.

I could have written the same post the day Obama truly got elected for president in the United States. It’s the same kind of thing. It shows us what’s possible and really should inspire us to be the best we can be in the present moment (and maybe even to be extraordinary!)

So to recap:

The next time you’re filled with a surge of motivational feelings, act on them! Follow the ‘divine’ advice within even if it scares you. See it as a form of enlightenment.

You might get it from an event like the 9.58 world record, or you might get it from a post like this. It doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that you follow your heart when you’re filled with inspiration, even if it’s just for a few seconds. Don’t throw it away as something silly. Follow your dream (cliché, but true).

This really was it from me. I’m working at the moment on getting the discussion board converted to a much more powerful, sleek and sexy system called Invision Power Board. So look forward to that.

If you haven’t seen it already, take a look at the 100 meter race embedded below. If I can’t inspire you to do something great, I sure hope the Lightning Bolt himself can…

(An Italian version was the best version I could find)

I hope this served as a little Tuesday inspiration bit.

I’ll talk to you soon,
Alex

Image by friskytuna.

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9 thoughts on “9.58! What Usain Bolt Taught Me About Opportunities Last Night

  1. Manrevo

    Ah man, I know exactly what you mean. I live for moments like those when you have an epiphany and a great idea that might possibly take off. It gets me really excited and giddy like a 12 year old girl.

    My problem used to be that when I DID come up with a killer idea, I’d just daydream about it and never get started on the work. It’s kind of like making a story. You already know how you’re gonna end it but you never bother thinking about the middle. And man, I still daydream about my blog time to time but unlike other projects, I finally started to roll up my sleeves and got to it.

    I believe that everybody can succeed because we’re faced with opportunities daily. Like you said, when it comes you gotta seize it. That’s the difference between regular people and those that make something of themselves.

    Reply
  2. Alex

    Ahh man that’s so good to hear.

    And I think that you’re so right about the difference between regular folks and those who make something of themselves. Spot on, sir!

    Reply
  3. Peter O.

    Alex, mate, you’re SO SO right! I met Her on Friday night. You know, HER! And I’m trying to decide whether to take a leap of faith and buy a plane ticket back to Australia for the two of us for a holiday next year, or if it’s TOO TOO SOON! Which is what MOST people would think and say…but you can call me a romantic, you can call me crazy, but i always knew that i would ‘just know it,’ when I met her. And I really feel it now. So, reading this post has really inspired me to really grab this opportunity, make the most of every chance I get, and GO FOR IT! I’m booking flights right now!

    As Manrevo says above, “I feel really excited and giddy like a 12 year old girl!” Mate, i could not agree more…good choice of words!

    As you say Alex, it is this divine act within me, that has given me the thought of booking this flight. And so, i must act on it. It may be a gamble, but it’s one I’m willing to take. And I’ll let you know how I get on…

    Peace

    Reply
  4. Alex

    Peter, it sounds amazing. Your comment made me smile… It’s really life-confirming.

    Do let me know how it goes my friend and I truly wish you the best of luck. I hope it turns out well.

    Take care,
    Alex

    Reply
  5. William Zanelli

    Alex, awesome!! We’re on the same wavelength!!

    Hey Manrevo, I feel you bros.. I’ve bene there – sometimes you gotta stop listening to those crappy emotions and follow simple logic!!

    Reply
  6. David Black

    When you watch someone like Usain Bolt you get that amazing feeling. Like something impossible can be done.

    Watching him makes you realise that you can achieve such great things if you really put the effort in. That is what you have to do, put the effort in.

    People may forget that he will eat, sleep and breath training all year just for those 10 seconds. But that is what he needs to do to succeed.

    Hopefully Usain can inspire others to work hard to achieve their own peronal goals in life.

    David

    Reply